d nibbled at the meat,
we would pull the trigger and the rat would make a hurried exit out of
this world--of course we could only do this at night.

During the day our favourite pastime was getting up hot lunches and
serving afternoon tea, and most of the soldiers became expert at this.
Our cookstove consisted of an old bully-beef can with holes punched in
it. In the bottom of this can we placed several small pieces of gunny
sack, and on top of this we put several pieces of trench candles. When
the candle melted and ran down over the sacking it produced a good
steady blaze and it gave out considerable heat--best of all, it didn't
make any smoke, for of course smoke in the front line would be apt to
draw shell fire. Over our fire we could boil the full of our mess tin
of water and make our tea--also, we could warm up our rations in this
way, and meat and vegetables tasted a lot better when they were hot.
We also carried Oxo cubes and prepared coffee so we could have a
nourishing drink at any time.

Some time on in February preparations were made for a raid on the
German trenches. Officers and men consulted together, and the men in
charge were busy drawing up plans and perfecting arrangements; we were
very much excited over it, and every one hoped that they would be among
the fortunate ones chosen to take part in the scrap. The 29th
Battalion was holding the line on our right, and they were coming in
with us on this. Finally the plans were given out; the raid was to
cover about fifteen hundred yards of the enemy trench and the battalion
scouts and bombers were the ones chosen to go over. The same number of
men went from the 29th, and the trench mortars of each battalion
protected the flanks of the attacking party and prevented the Germans
in the other parts of the trench coming to the assistance of those
attacked. Also, a party of bombers were stationed in the "Glory Hole"
ready to act as reinforcements if they were needed--I was one of the
latter bunch, and oh how I longed for the signal that would give me a
chance to share in the fun!

The attack was planned for 3 A.M. At the sound of a whistle they were
to go over the top, enter the enemy trenches, do all the harm they
could, and when they heard the second whistle come back, bringing as
many prisoners as they possibly could. But before they went out, two
men, Conlin and another chap, stole quietly out and cut the enemy's
wire entanglements--they lay there